What is your main goal for working out? If you are already a big dude with a lot of muscle and some excess fat, then you might be in the gym to shed a few pounds and get ripped. However, if you are a small guy you’re probably working out to build muscle mass and get huge. Well, if your gym sessions are comprised mostly of dumbbell curls and leg extensions, you aren’t going to achieve your goals very quickly (or ever!). That’s because you need to build your workout around compound exercises if you want to pack on some serious mass.

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Compound Exercises vs. Isolation Exercises

In order for you to know which exercises to build your workout around, it’s essential to understand the difference between a compound exercise and an isolation exercise. A compound exercise involves the use and movement of more than one joint, whereas an isolation exercise moves the body through only one joint movement. Pretty simple, right?

Here are a few examples of compound exercises you should include in your workout, along with the body parts they work:

• Deadlifts: Legs, Back, Shoulders
• Barbell Squats: Legs, Back
• Bench Press: Chest, Shoulders, Triceps
• Military Press: Shoulders, Triceps
• Dips: Triceps, Chest
• Barbell Row: Back, Biceps

The above exercises will help you pack on muscle mass in a way that no isolation exercise can. So, if you’re looking to bulk up and get huge, you will definitely want to base your workout around these exercises. Keep reading my posts in the future to learn more about each specific exercise and the benefits they offer.

This article certainly isn’t meant to argue that isolation exercises are of no value. In fact, isolating your muscles adds it’s own value and can offer different results that compound exercises do not. Read my next post to learn more about isolation exercises and how they can help you.